Host of “Pregaming the SEC,” Jacob Hester, claims that the Auburn football team’s unfathomable Week 12 loss to New Mexico State altered the program’s course entirely. Hester is unable to look past the Aggies’ 31-10 thrashing of AU and fails to see the sky falling on the Plains.
According to Hester (via Saturday Down South), “I was thinking bowl eligible in year 1 after what he took over from Bryan Harsin, talking about Hugh Freeze, they’re going to be able to build off of this.” “They might have nine wins the following season. It made me reconsider. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but New Mexico State has had an incredible year. This is not possible. Not only did it occur, but it did so in a way that was not near.
“Honestly, it has changed my perspective on what Auburn can be next year. I know I shouldn’t do that off 1 game, but it has.”
I’ve stated it before and I’ll say it again: aside from maybe one of the most interesting trivia questions regarding the 2023 college football season, Auburn cannot allow the defeat to New Mexico State define anything going forward.
Getting his team over this setback might be Hugh Freeze’s toughest challenge of the year—more so than the four straight losses against Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. If he is unable to do so, he might not receive enough leash to accomplish his long-term goals.
All of the effort on the recruiting trail for upcoming classes will be in vain if AU continues to produce five- and six-win seasons because this coaching staff will not be able to bring those recruits to campus.
